I've just started homebrewing (first batch is fermenting now), and I'm using borrowed equipment. However, I think this is something I'm going to stick with, and I'll need my own equipment eventually.
My question is: what equipment would you suggest for a beginning homebrewer, and what's the best way to obtain it? I put together a shopping list on Northern Brewer (deluxe starter kit with glass carboys, good-size brew kettle, hydrometer, floating thermometer) and it came out to about $250. I can swing that if that's the way to go. It's a decent chunk of change, however, and I could go cheaper--get a cheaper starter kit with fermenting buckets rather than carboys, etc. However, I do plan on making hoppy IPA's, fruit beers, etc. that probably require a secondary fermenter even though I understand secondary fermentation isn't really recommended for most basic beers anymore.
Is this the way to go, or should I be trying to find used equipment on Craigslist? EBay? Something else?
My question is: what equipment would you suggest for a beginning homebrewer, and what's the best way to obtain it? I put together a shopping list on Northern Brewer (deluxe starter kit with glass carboys, good-size brew kettle, hydrometer, floating thermometer) and it came out to about $250. I can swing that if that's the way to go. It's a decent chunk of change, however, and I could go cheaper--get a cheaper starter kit with fermenting buckets rather than carboys, etc. However, I do plan on making hoppy IPA's, fruit beers, etc. that probably require a secondary fermenter even though I understand secondary fermentation isn't really recommended for most basic beers anymore.
Is this the way to go, or should I be trying to find used equipment on Craigslist? EBay? Something else?